Like Steve Smith, I shoot NRA and CMP Highpower.
In this game 10 or 20 shot strings are the norm.
When testing a new M1 or a new load for one of my Match Grades I always shoot a minimum of 8 shots and most times 10. I find that shooting 3 or 5 shot groups to determine a rifle-loads accuracy potential just don't cut it.
How does I know this???
By watching the groups form in the spotting scope.
Shoot 3 shots and look at the group in the scope. Notice the distance between the two furthest apart.
Shoot 2 more shots and look... Fully 90% of the time the group will be BIGGER than it was before.
Shoot 3 more rounds (total of 8) and look through the scope. Two thirds of the time, the group will be bigger still.
Shoot 2 more rounds (total of 10). About a quarter of the time the group will be even bigger than before.
As you shoot more and more rounds into a single group you see two things happen. The chance that the group will get bigger with any one additional shot decreases..... and the SIZE of any additional increase goes down as well.
This shows you that you are reaching the upper limits of the variables that go toward determining how far apart the next shot will be from the center of the group formed by the previous ones.
Can you say "Statistics 101"???
For the purposes of "braggin' rights", I could take every Garand or Mauser or Enfield in my vault out and shoot a single 3 shot group at 100 yds with it. A good many of them would put 3 shots under 1-1/2 or 2 inches. Pretty good for the old milsurps.
If, however, I turned around and shot a single 10 shot group out of all these warhorses, very few would end up with a group size under 2 inches. Most would run around 3 to 3-1/2 and I'm sure some would hit 4.
Looks like a whole different story then..... and not nearly so great for braggin' about.... BUT it's a more meaningful expression of what the rifle is actually capable of, regardless of how impressive it sounded.
Another aspect I've not even heard anyone comment on is CONSISTENCY of groups. Once I fire a rifle and make a 10 shot group and have a "number" of MOA it's capable of, I have to ask myself..... CAN IT DO IT AGAIN??? and again.... and again???
Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not.... A rifle-load combo that put 10 into 2.0 inches first try, might put them into 3.0 the next (or 1-1/2).
What's the average 10 shot group size after 4-5 groups??? Having THAT particular bit of information is a REAL indicator of how the rifle will perform over the long haul of competition shooting.
The end result here is that determining the accuracy potential of a rifle used in Highpower Competition demands that you find out how it performs over a high number of consecutive shots fired. A rifle that won't keep 10-20 consecutive shots inside the 10 ring (X-ring??) of a target is not much use as a tool of competition. Firing 3 to 5 shot groups just won't cut it in making this determination......
While this degree of accuracy labeling might be more than most folks demand for their particular purposes, I think that it's pretty much the norm for anyone who is really serious about any form of comp shooting.
In any case.... for Highpower shooters the "braggin' rights" don't come from talking about your rifles last test group, but about the score that was posted next to your name at the last Match......
Just more of my ramblings.
Best to all,
Swampy
